Attachment assembly for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An attachment assembly for a vehicle having a receiver for pulling an object or being pulled. The attachment assembly includes a support member for connection to the receiver and an attachment member connected to the support member to provide both pivotal and rotational movement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims the priority date of co-pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/392,674, filed Oct. 13, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, moreparticularly, to an attachment assembly for a vehicle for pulling anobject with the vehicle or the vehicle being pulled.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to pull an object with a vehicle such as a motor vehicle,recreational vehicle, or agricultural vehicle. In some instances, thevehicles may be provided with a receiver for a hitch to pull an objectsuch as a trailer, agricultural implement, etc. Typically, the vehiclehas a receiver secured to the vehicle and the hitch has a hitch memberhaving a ball connector disposed on the hitch member. A locking pinextends through the hitch member and receiver to secure the hitch membertube to the receiver. The object may include a tongue beam that isreleasibly attached to the ball connector as is known in the art.

It is also known that a shackle may be attached to the end of the hitchmember instead of a ball. Typically, the shackle is allowed to onlypivot one hundred eighty degrees) (180°) up and down or from side toside, which restricts attachment and movement in some towing situations.The shackle may also be easily removed from the hitch member, which isundesired.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an assembly for a vehicle thatallows attachment for pulling an object or the vehicle being pulled. Itis also desirable to provide an assembly for a vehicle that allowsattachment and pivotal and rotational movement for pulling an object orthe vehicle being pulled. It is further desirable to provide an assemblyfor a vehicle that cannot be easily removed once it is installed. It isstill further desirable to provide an assembly for a vehicle that allowsutility pulling such as logs, shrubs, etc. Thus, there is a need in theart to provide an assembly that meets at least one of these desires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide anattachment assembly for a vehicle that allows attachment for pulling anobject or the vehicle being pulled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an attachmentassembly for a vehicle that allows attachment and pivotal and rotationalmovement for pulling an object or the vehicle being pulled.

To achieve one or more of the foregoing objects, the present inventionis an attachment assembly for a vehicle having a receiver for pulling anobject or being pulled. The attachment assembly includes a supportmember for connection to the receiver. The attachment assembly furtherincludes an attachment member connected to the support member forpivotal and rotational movement when the support member is connected tothe receiver.

One advantage of the present invention is that an attachment assembly isprovided for a vehicle for pulling an object or the vehicle being pulledthat has both pivotal and rotational movement. Another advantage of thepresent invention is that the attachment assembly allows 360° rotationalmovement for pulling an object, for example, in vehicle towingsituations or being pulled, for example, in vehicle extractionsituations. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that theattachment assembly may not be easily removed once installed on thevehicle. Still a further advantage of the present invention is that theattachment assembly allows a vehicle such as a motor vehicle,recreational vehicle, agricultural vehicle, etc. to pull an object suchas another vehicle, logs, shrubs, etc. A still further advantage of thepresent invention is that the attachment assembly may be installed on avehicle having a receiver, for example a motor vehicle, such thatanother vehicle such as a tow truck can extract or pull the vehiclehaving the attachment assembly.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, afterreading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment assembly, according to thepresent invention, illustrated in operational relationship with aportion of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a portion of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the attachment assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment, according to thepresent invention, of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1 illustrated inoperational relationship with a portion of a vehicle.

FIG. 7 is an end view of yet another embodiment, according to thepresent invention, of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the attachment assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is another side view of the attachment assembly of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, one embodimentof an attachment assembly 10, according to the present invention, isshown for a vehicle 12 (partially shown). As illustrated in FIG. 1, aportion of the vehicle 12 is shown. The vehicle 12 may be of any typesuch as a wheeled vehicle, motor vehicle, recreational vehicle,agricultural vehicle, etc., as is known in the art, although any type ofvehicle may be used. The vehicle 12 includes a receiver 14 located ineither a front or rear thereof. In the embodiment illustrated, thereceiver 14 extends longitudinally and is a tube having a generallyrectangular cross-sectional shape. The receiver 14 has a cavity 16extending longitudinally therein. The receiver 14 has a lock-pinaperture 18 extending laterally therethrough for a function to bedescribed. It should be appreciated that the receiver 14 may have anysuitable cross-sectional shape. It should also be appreciated that thereceiver 14 is conventional and known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, in one embodiment, the attachmentassembly 10 includes a support member 20 to be removably connected orattached to the receiver 14. In the embodiment illustrated, the supportmember 20 extends longitudinally and has a generally rectangularcross-sectional shape. The support member 20 has a flange plate 22 atone end thereof. The flange plate 22 has a generally circular shape. Theflange plate 22 extends outwardly beyond the support member 20 and has acentral aperture 24 extending therethrough. The support member 20 has alock-pin aperture 26 extending laterally therethrough. When the supportmember 20 is inserted in the cavity 16 of the receiver 14, it isinserted such that the lockpin aperture 26 on the support member 20aligns with the lockpin aperture 18 extending through the receiver 14.It should be appreciated that the support member 20 may have anysuitable cross-sectional shape. It should also be appreciated that theflange plate 22 may have any suitable shape.

The attachment assembly 10 also includes a shaft member 28 attached tothe support member 20 and an attachment member 30 extending through theshaft member 28. The shaft member 28 has a head 32 and a shaft 34extending axially from the head 32. The shaft 34 may have a plurality ofthreads 36 at one end. The shaft 34 extends through the aperture 24 inthe flange plate 22. The shaft 34 has a diameter less than a diameter ofthe aperture 24 to rotate therein. The head 32 also has an aperture 40extending therethrough. The shaft member 28 is made of a rigid materialsuch as metal or a composite. It should be appreciated that the shaftmember 28 may be in the form of a bolt, eye-member, or unthreaded studthat is press-fit onto the support member 20.

In one embodiment, the attachment member 30 has a generally closedshape. In the embodiment illustrated, the attachment member 30 has agenerally circular cross sectional shape although any suitable closedshape may be used. The attachment member 30 may be formed from straightbar stock that is extended through the aperture 40 in the head 32 of theshaft member 28. The bar stock of the attachment member 30 is then bentinto a generally closed shape with ends spaced from each other to form agap therebetween as a butt joint, which may be welded. In anotherembodiment, the attachment member 30 may be formed as a casting orforging. The attachment member 30 is made of a rigid material such asmetal or a composite. The metal material may be a solid ferrous ornon-ferrous material. It should be appreciated that the welding processwill effectively create a weld butt joint to close the gap. It shouldalso be appreciated that the attachment member 30 may be in the form ofshackle.

The attachment assembly 10 may include a retainer 44 to retain the shaftmember 28 to the support member 20. In the embodiment illustrated, theretainer 44 may be a separate member such as a nut having an aperture 46extending therethrough with a plurality of internal threads for matingengaging the threads of the shaft member 28. The shaft member 28 isextended through the central aperture 24 in the flange plate 22 and theretainer 44 threadably engages the threads 36 of the shaft 34 to securethe shaft member 28 to the support member 20. The attachment assembly 10may include a locking feature for the retainer 44 such as an adhesive,spot-weld, etc. for locking the retainer 44 and shaft 34 together toprevent the retainer 44 from disengaging the shaft 34. In anotherembodiment, the retainer 44 may be a portion of the shaft member 28behind the flange plate 22 with the shaft 34 extending through theaperture 24 in the flange plate 22 and having the aperture 40 extendingtherethrough to receive the attachment member 30. It should beappreciated that the retainer 44 is disposed inside of the supportmember 20. It should also be appreciated that the retainer 44 allows theshaft member 28 to be journaled to rotate three hundred sixty degrees(360°) such that the shaft member 28 rotates relative to the supportmember 20.

Referring to FIG. 1, the attachment assembly 10 further includes alockpin 48 to be inserted through the lockpin aperture 18 and lockpinaperture 26 to prevent the support member 20 from exiting the receiver14. The lockpin 48 is generally cylindrical in shape with a generallycircular cross-sectional shape. The lockpin 48 typically has one endthat is bent to form a general “L” shape and the other end has anaperture 50 extending diametrically therethrough. The attachmentassembly 10 also includes a hairpin clip 52 which is inserted throughthe aperture 50 in the lockpin 48 and clipped on the end of the lockpin48 to prevent the lockpin 48 from exiting the receiver 14 and supportmember 20. It should be appreciated that the lockpin 48 and hairpin clip52 are conventional and known in the art.

In operation, the attachment assembly 10 is installed on the end of thevehicle 12. When assembled, the shaft member 28 is allowed to rotate 360degrees due to the journal in the central aperture 24 of the flangeplate 22 of the support member 20. The attachment member 30 is allowedto pivot at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°) due to theattachment member 30 extending through the aperture 40 in the head 32 ofthe shaft member 28. During pulling, a rope, cable, chain, or the likemay be attached to the attachment member 30. This allows the attachmentmember 30 to rotate and/or pivot relative to the pulled or pullingobject during usage. It should be appreciated that the attachmentassembly 10 provides both pivoting and rotation during pulling. Itshould also be appreciated that the attachment assembly 10 allows theforce axis of the object to be centered during pulling due to thepivoting and rotating of the attachment member 30.

Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment 110, according to the presentinvention, of the attachment assembly 10 is shown. Like parts of theattachment assembly 10 have like reference numerals increased by onehundred (100). In the embodiment illustrated, the attachment assembly110 includes a receiver 114 configured as a tongue. The receiver 114 isa generally planar and rectangular plate having an aperture 118extending therethrough. It should be appreciated that the receiver 114is of a type found on agricultural vehicles.

The attachment assembly 110 also includes the support member 120, shaftmember 128 attached to the support member 120, and the attachment member130 extending through the shaft member 128. In this embodiment, thesupport member 120 is at least partially disposed over the receiver 114.The attachment assembly 110 further includes the lockpin 148 to beinserted through the lockpin aperture 118 and lockpin aperture 126 toprevent the support member 120 from exiting the receiver 114. Theattachment assembly 110 may also includes the hairpin clip 152 which isinserted through the aperture 150 in the lockpin 148 and clipped on theend of the lockpin 148 to prevent the lockpin 148 from exiting thereceiver 114 and support member 120. It should be appreciated that theoperation of the attachment assembly 110 is similar to the operation ofthe attachment assembly 10.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 9, yet another embodiment 210, according tothe present invention, of the attachment assembly 210 is shown. Likeparts of the attachment assembly 210 have like reference numeralsincreased by two hundred (200). In the embodiment illustrated, theattachment assembly 210 includes the support member 220, shaft member228 attached to the support member 220, and the attachment member 230extending through the shaft member 228. In this embodiment, the supportmember 220 has a plurality of shanks or stepped portions 220 a and 220b. The stepped portions 220 a and 220 b are generally rectangular inshape and are of a size such as 1¼ inches, 2 inches, and 2½ inches. Thestepped portions 220 a and 220 b have at least one aperture 226extending therethrough. In the embodiment illustrated, the steppedportion 220 a has one aperture 226 extending therethrough and thestepped portion 220 b has a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 226extending laterally therethrough. The shaft member 228 and supportmember 220 are integral and being as one-piece. The support member 220is a solid member being integral, unitary, and one-piece. It should beappreciated that the operation of the attachment assembly 210 is similarto the operation of the attachment assembly 10.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. Itis to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, isintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of theappended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than asspecifically described.

1. An attachment assembly for a vehicle having a receiver for pulling anobject or being pulled, said attachment assembly comprising: a supportmember for connection to a receiver of the vehicle; and an attachmentmember connected to said support member to provide both pivotal androtational movement when said support member is connected to thereceiver.
 2. An attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 including ashaft member attached to said support member.
 3. An attachment assemblyas set forth in claim 2 wherein said shaft member has a head.
 4. Anattachment assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shaft memberhas a shaft extending axially from said head.
 5. An attachment assemblyas set forth in claim 3 wherein said head has an aperture extendingtherethrough, said attachment member extending through said aperture. 6.An attachment assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a retainer toretain said shaft member to said support member.
 7. An attachmentassembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retainer is a nut havingan aperture extending therethrough with a plurality of internal threadsfor matingly engaging threads of said shaft member.
 8. An attachmentassembly as set forth in claim 7 including a locking feature for lockingsaid retainer and said shaft member together to prevent said retainersaid from disengaging said shaft member.
 9. An attachment assembly asset forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment member has a generallyclosed shape.
 10. An attachment assembly as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid support member has a flange plate at one end thereof, said flangeplate extending outwardly beyond said support member and having acentral aperture extending therethrough to receive said shaft member.11. An attachment assembly comprising: a receiver for connection to avehicle; an attachment assembly connected to said receiver to provideboth pivotal and rotational movement for pulling an object with thevehicle or the vehicle being pulled.
 12. An attachment assembly as setforth in claim 11 wherein said attachment assembly comprises a supportmember connected to said receiver.
 13. An attachment assembly as setforth in claim 12 wherein said attachment assembly comprises anattachment member connected to said support member to provide bothpivotal and rotational movement.
 14. An attachment assembly as set forthin claim 13 wherein said attachment assembly comprises a shaft memberattached to said support member.
 15. An attachment assembly as set forthin claim 14 wherein said shaft member has a head, wherein said head hasan aperture extending therethrough, said attachment member extendingthrough said aperture.
 16. An attachment assembly as set forth in claim13 wherein said attachment member has a generally closed shape.
 17. Anattachment assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said shaft memberhas a shaft extending axially from the head and a retainer to retainsaid shaft member to said support member.
 18. An attachment assembly asset forth in claim 17 wherein said retainer is a nut having an apertureextending therethrough with a plurality of internal threads for matingengaging threads of said shaft member.
 19. An attachment assembly as setforth in claim 17 including a locking feature for locking said retainerand shaft member together to prevent said retainer said from disengagingsaid shaft member.
 20. An attachment assembly for a vehicle having areceiver for pulling an object or being pulled, said attachment assemblycomprising: a support member for connection to the receiver, saidsupport member having a flange plate at one end thereof, said flangeplate extending outwardly and having a central aperture extendingtherethrough; a shaft member extending through said central aperture andattached to said support member, said shaft member having a head, saidhead having an aperture extending therethrough; and an attachment memberhaving a generally closed shape extending through said aperture in saidhead to provide both pivotal and rotational movement.